Botanical Preparation Guide
Overview
ShrimpCity ensures that all of its botanical products (Tantora, Deverose, etc) are sourced from safe environments that are free from pesticides, pollution and other chemicals.
This does not however mean that these products must be added directly into your aquarium with no preparation. Throughout their journey they come into contact with people and other environments, so it is essential to reduce any risk of contamination before placing these in your tanks.
Another reason to prepare your botanicals is that many of these require the absorption of water in order to sink. Some botanicals may take longer than others to sink, even with proper preparation.
Pods & Cones
To prepare your pods and/or cones, follow these steps:
- Unpack your pods/cones and rinse these under freshwater for a few minutes
- Boil for at least 60 minutes in a pot of water. You may also soak the items in boiling water over a longer period.
- Allow to cool. Drain the pot, rinse and soak the items in new freshwater for at least 12 hours. This is to ensure any further leaching that has not been released during the boiling process.
Leaves & Tea Bags
To prepare your leaves and/or tea bags, follow these steps:
- Unpack your leaves/tea bags and rinse these under freshwater for a few minutes.
- Soak in boiling water for 10-15 minutes.
- Allow to cool and rinse in freshwater. You can optionally (recommended) soak the items in new freshwater overnight. Leaves may take time to sink once placed in your aquarium.
Adding Botanicals to your Aquarium
It is highly recommended to add botanicals to your aquarium incrementally and in moderation. As with all this aquarium, adding something too quickly or in too much volume can lead to swings in parameters or changes within the environment that you have created.
